Amusement device.



J. HUEBNER. AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLIOATIUN FILED JULY 2, 190e.

91 4,723. Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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J. HUEBNER. AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLIOATIDN FILED JULY z. 190e.

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J. HUEBNER. AMUSBMIINT DEVICE. APPLIOATION'PILBD JULY 2, 190s.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIQE.

JOHN HUEBNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARREL AMUSEMENTOO., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AMUSETJIENT DEVICE.

Application iled July 2, 1968.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909. serai No. 441,706.

To all whom it may concern:

' Beit known that I, donn I-IUEBNER, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices of thatcharacter wherein the passengers are housed in inclosures which arebodily movable and to which movement is imparted independently of suchbodily movement.

The device of my invention is preferably embodied in a circularstructure of the merry-go-round type, and comprises a supportingstructure on which is provided a plurality of rigid platforms forreceiving the passengers and about which platforms there are disposedmovable inclosures adapted to be revolved as the result of thepropelling movement imparted to the structure.

My invention will be more fully described in connection with theaccompanying draw ings and will be more particularly pointed out andascertained in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the mainfeatures of my invention Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof online 2 2 of Fig. 1, with the inclosures in elevation Fig. 3 is asectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, Fig. l is a plan view of a portionof the supporting structure,

with the inclosure removed; Fig. 5 is an end view looking in thedirection of the arrow 5 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view online 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifferent figures of the drawings.

In the specific embodiment shown, the device of my invention is embodiedin a circular structure adapted to be rotated or propelled about a fixedaxis, but it will be understood that my invention is not to be limitedto the specific form disclosed in the drawings, except such limitationsas the claims import.

Referring to the drawings, the device of 1n invention comprises aplurality of radial y disposed trucks designated as a whole at 1 andunited by connecting members 2 to form a unitary circular supportingstructure. Each truck may consist of a skeleton frame comprising lateralmembers 3 connected at their ends by transverse members 4l and unitedmidway of their ends by a transverse member 5. If desired, the truckframe may be stiflened by cross braces o, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Ifthe supporting structure is designed tc run upon rails, it may besupported by operating wheels, as indicated at 7, and by auxiliarysupporting wheels 8 and 9, which wheels, in the embodiment shown, aredisposed beneath the trucks.

I desirably provide each truck with two centrally disposed operatingwheels '7 and two supporting wheels 8 and 9 at the inner and outer endsof each truck. Conveniently, bearings 10 for the wheels 7 are mounted onthe transverse members 5 and bearings 11 are mounted on a circularmember 12 wiich extends completely around and beneath the trucks andwhich may be secured at 13 to the lateral members 8 thereof. Preferably,the circular member 12 .is in the form of a rack, by means of which thestructure is propelled, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Eachtruck is conveniently provided with a platform which is designated as awhole at 1e, each platform extending longitudinally of, and somewhatabove the truck on which it is supported. As shown, each platform issupported by a plurality of -beams 15, the ends of which are secured toinelosure walls i6 and 17 which latter are rigidly mounted on thetrucks. Said walls are provided with wheels 18 and 19, the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter more fully appear. v

An inclosure is provided for each truck, and, as shown, said inclosuresare in the form of barrels 20 which are open at both ends. Each barrelis provided with the usual hoops 2l and near their central portions eachbarrel is provided with a bearing ring 22 adapted to seat or rest in thegrooved peripheries of the wheels 7. As shown in Fig. il, said wheels Zare laterally disposed with respect to the longitudinal central axis ofeach truck, so that they will engage the bearing rings of the barrels atpoints laterally of the center of gravity thereof. Substantially theentire weight of each barrel is imposed upon the wheels 7, and it willbe readily seen that when the structure is propelled the barrels will berotated by said wheels. The barrels are of sufiicient diameter tocompletely surround the platform 14, and said barrels extendsubstantially throughout the length thereof, the ends of said barrelsbeing closed by the walls 16 and 17 which are conveniently formedcircular for this purpose. In order to prevent the barrels fromoverbalancing or tipping on the wheels 7, each barrel is rotativelyconnected with the truck structure, and this feature is convenientlyrealized by providing the opposite ends of the barrels with rims 23which project inwardly in a manner to engage the rollers 18 and 19, asclearly shown in Fig. 6. In view of the fact that the rollers 18 and 19are provided merely for the purpose of maintaining the rotating barrelsin a prescribed position, the said rollers are disposed near the centraland lower portions i j of the walls 16 and 17 The device of my inventionis not only designed to carry the occupants throughout a prescribedcourse of travel, but it is also designed to provide amusement and otherwise enhance the enjoyment of the occupants and to this end eachplatform is provided with a plurality of seats or benches 24 which mayconveniently be disposed on opposite sides of an aisle 25 to whichentrance may be provided by means'of doors 26. The end Walls 16 and 17may, if desired, be provided with ventilating openings 27 or reliancemay be placed upon the spaces between the end walls and the Vbarrels toprovide ventilation. A stage 28 may conveniently be disposed at one endof each platform, and the inner surface of the end walls 16 may beutilized as a canvas support upon which pictures may be projected, andthe lantern or other projecting device 29 may conveniently be disposedon the outer wall 17. ln order to provide further amusement for theoccupants, the interior walls of the barrels may be decorated in anydesirable manner, thereby creating the illusion to the occupants oftraveling bodily and axially while' the device is in motion.

As shown, the wheels 7 travel upon a centrally disposed track 30 Whilethe Wheels 8 and 9 travel upon inner and outer rails 31 and 32.

As shown, the structure is propelled by means which is of the followingconstructionz-Shafts 33 and 33 are mounted in bearings 34 and areprovided at their ends with pinions 35 and 36 respectively. Pinions 35and 36 mesh with the rack 12. Shaft 33 is driven in one direction and anidler 37 is interposed between pinions 37 and 37, mounted on shafts 33and 33', respectively, to obtain a driving action at the right of Fig. 2in a reverse direction to the driving action of the left of said figure.An electric motor 38, or other source of ower, may be connected with theshaft 33 y a reducing gear 39, 40, 41 and 42, as shown. A band brake 43is indicated generallyand need not be shown or described in detail, asit forms no part of the present invention.

It will also be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theparticular form of driving means herein shown, as the latter may bevaried without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim- 1. An amusement device comprising in combination, a pluralityof radially disposed trucks connected with each other to form a circularstructure, centrally disposed barrel operating truck wheels for eachtruck, rollers supporting the inner and outer ends of said trucks, abarrel for each truck resting on said centrally disposed wheels, aplatform for each truck projecting longitudinally through each barreland out of engagement therewith, inner and outer walls rigidly mountedon each truck for closing the ends of said barrels, each of said wallsbeing provided with rollers engaging the ends of said barrels, acircular rack carried by said trucks, and means engaging said rack topropel said structure and rotate said barrels.

2. An amusement device comprising in combination, a plurality ofradially disposed trucks connected with each other to form a circularstructure, centrally disposed barrel operating truck wheels for eachtruck, rollers supporting the inner and outer ends of said trucks, abarrel for each truck resting on said centrally disposed wheels, aplatform for each truck rojecting longitudinally through the barrel tereof, inner and outer end walls for each truck closing the ends of thebarrel and supporting the platform thereof, each of said walls beingprovided with rollers engaging the ends of said barrels, a circular rackcarried by said trucks, and means engaging said rack to propel saidstructure and rotate said barrels and circular tracks for said truckwheels.

3. An amusement device comprising in combination, a plurality ofradially disposed trucks connected with each other to form a circularstructure, centrally disposed barrel operating truck Wheels for eachtruck, Wheels for the ends of said trucks, circular tracks for saidwheels, a barrel for each truck resting on the centrally disposed wheelsthereof, a platform for each truck projecting through the barrelthereof, means carried by said trucks and movably connected With andclosing the ends of said barrels, and means ropellling said structureand operating said arre s.

4. An amusement device comprising in combination, a plurality ofradially disposed trucks connected with each other to form a circularstructure, barrel operating truck Wheels for each truck, su portingWheels for each truck, circular trac s for said wheels, platforms foreach truck, a barrel for each truck surrounding the platform thereof androtatably mounted on said operating Wheels and trucks, and means forpropelling said structure.

5. An amusement device comprising in combination, a plurality of trucksconnected With each other to form a unitary structure, each truck beingprovided With a rigid platform, supporting and barrel operating Wheels,and a barrel for each truck resting on said operating Wheels androtatively oonnected with said trucks.

6. An amusement device comprising in combination, a plurality of trucksconnected with eaoh other to ferm a unitary structure, eaoh truck beingprovided With a rigid platform and operating supporting Wheels,inelosures surrounding said platforms and operated by said Wheels, andmeans for propelling said structure.

7. An amusement device comprising in combination, a supporting structureprovided With a plurality of rigid platforms, operating supportingWheels for said strueture, inolosures surrounding said platforms andoperated by said Wheels, and means for prope ling said structure.

8. An amusement device comprising in combination, a supporting structureprovided With a plurality of rigid platforms, inolosures for saidplatforms, means for propelling said structure, and means for rotatingsaid inolosures when said structure is propelled.

In testimony whereof I aliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN HUEBNER.

Witnesses: .y

HANS KRAUT, CARL H. CRAWFORD.

